Tuesday, March 6, 2012

March is Pet Poison Prevention Month. It’s amazing how many
things can be poisonous to pets. Not all exposure/ingestion of poisonous
materials requires an immediate trip to the vet, so if you suspect your pet ate
something it shouldn’t have, don’t panic!
Try to determine what and how much your pet ate and assess its
condition. A pet that is unconscious, losing consciousness, having difficulty
breathing or has a seizure needs immediate medical care. Keep the name and
number of your local veterinarian on file. It is also a good idea to keep the
name and number of an afterhours/emergency animal clinic handy. There are two
in the DC-metro area:

Even if your pet seems fine, it’s still a good idea to call
your vet or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). The APCC is open
24 hours, 365 days a year. There is a $65 fee to use the service. The phone
number is 888-426-4435. The APCC is staffed by veterinary health professionals
who have received special training in veterinary toxicology.

When calling your local vet or the APCC hotline have the
following information ready:

The species, breed, age, weight and gender of
the animal

The animal’s symptoms

Information about what and how much was ingested
or what the animal was exposed to

How long since the poison was ingested

·If possible, have the product's
container/packaging available. If needed, collect any materials the animal may
have vomited or chewed to take to the vet.

As we mentioned before, it’s incredible how many things we
have in our homes that are harmful to pets. Who would have thought pennies
minted after 1982 could harm your pet? Or that eating macadamia nuts can cause
a dog to be depressed, vomit, have tremors and/or hyperthermia. Many of these
items are foods we eat on a daily basis or products we use to clean our homes.
As a pet owner it’s very important to remember that just because it’s safe for
humans doesn’t mean it’s safe for our pets. The ASPCA has compiled a great
list of tips for creating a poison safe home for your pets. Be sure to
check out their list of toxic and non-toxic
flowers and plants. Before you banish all unsafe foods and products from
your home, remember prevention is the best thing we pet owners can do to keep
our furry friends safe.